Psychedelia in the United States: An Ethnographic Study of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use
December 1, 2020 Tristan S. Seikel
People who use psychedelics outside clinical settings often shift from recreational or curiosity-driven motives toward therapeutic and psychospiritual goals over time. A survey of 103 participants and 25 interviews across the United States found that most users reported transformative effects on health, well-being, connection to nature, identity, spirituality, and creative expression. Punitive drug laws create barriers to availability, fear of arrest, and social stigma that undermine support for users.